DAYTON – The No. 23-ranked Dayton volleyball team opens its 2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament journey with a match against fellow at-large team South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The match will be broadcast by veteran play-by-play man Mike Leslie with former Baylor Bear Hannah Sedwick as analyst on ESPN+.
 
The Flyers In The NCAA Tournament
UD has made the NCAA Tournament 18 times in its volleyball history, 13 of which have come under the guidance of head coach Tim Horsmon. He was the head coach when the Flyers made the tournament for the first time in 2003.
 
Dayton has made the second round of the NCAA Tournament 10 times, including last season after defeating Pepperdine in five. The Flyers have never advanced beyond the opening weekend of postseason, aiming for their first ever Sweet Sixteen berth.
 
Almodovar Reigns
Dayton redshirt senior Lexie Almodovar was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, making it back-to-back seasons winning the award for the Flyer.
 
The Noblesville, Ind. native is the sixth Flyer to win multiple A-10 Player of the Year awards, joining three-time winner Jamie Peterson, and two-time winners Alaina Turner, Rachel Krabacher, Lindsay Fletemier, and UD Hall of Famer Faye Barhorst in the exclusive club.
 
The Difference a Year Makes!
While not an accolade given by the Atlantic 10, junior Liana Sarkissian would have to be considered the league's Most Improved Player this season. Sarkissian moved from the right side to middle blocker and her numbers have jumped significantly across the board.
 
The Greenwich, Conn. native has averaged over a kill more per set (1.41 to 2.52), more blocks per set (0.68 to 1.14), and made a significant jump in attack average (.224 to .378). She's also averaged .20 service aces per set and 52 digs on the season. Sarkissian won an Atlantic 10 Player of the Week award as well as an A-10 Defensive Player of the Week nod.
 
Miller the Maestro
Senior Alyssa Miller has orchestrated one of the best offenses in the country, not just the Atlantic 10, in her final season as a Flyer. The Overland Park, Kan. native has divvied out a career-high 10.87 assists per set on the season, good for 14th in the country. Miller has also averaged a career-high 2.60 digs per set.
 
Perhaps even more impressive, however, is that Miller has the Flyers hitting at a record-pace of .302 this season. The mark ranks No. 6 in the NCAA this season.
 
One Last Go-Around
Redshirt senior Alayna Yates returned to Dayton for a super senior year and produced one of the finest offensive seasons of her career. The middle blocker has hit an Atlantic 10-leading .366 on the season and has averaged 1.04 blocks per set.
 
Yates's career attack percentage has climbed to .330, putting her in a tie for eighth place in Dayton Volleyball history.
 
Saving the Best for Last
Redshirt senior Brooke Smith has elevated her game in her final season as a Flyer, putting up career-highs in kills (230), kills/set (2.40), digs (52), total blocks (67), blocks/set (0.70), points (268) and points per set (2.79).
 
The Leo, Ind. native and Louisville transfer had eight matches with 10+ kills on the season, and set a Flyer single-game record for hitting percentage in a three-set match when she had 10 kills on 12 swings with no errors (.833) at Saint Louis. Smith also earned an Atlantic 10 Player of the Week nod on the season.
 
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina has an overall record of 16-11 after a 7-9 showing in the SEC this season. The Gamecocks earned the bid to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large, boasting two Top 25 wins over Florida.
 
Riley Whitesides is the top offensive weapon in the lineup for South Carolina, averaging 4.43 kills/set, good for 23rd in the nation.
 
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